A Case Study: The Effect of Visitors on Two Captive Pumas With Respect to the Time of the Day
Abstract
This study analyzed the effects of noise levels and number of visitors on the behaviors of a mother puma and her daughter in a zoo environment with respect to the time of day. The study monitored visitation (noise and number) over two 1-week periods (4 weeks between periods) and frequency of various puma behaviors (videorecorded). The study analyzed videotaped behavior of the pumas based on the time of day and visitors' number and noise levels. There was a direct association of puma behaviors with visitors' number and noise levels. The daughter puma was the most affected and behavioral changes of both pumas correlated more strongly with the noise level than the number of visitors. The noise level and number of visitors affected the behavior of the mother and her daughter only in the morning. The results of this study indicate that both noise level and number of visitors affected these pumas but revealed the noise as predominant. Moreover, the response of these pumas to visitors depended on the time of the day.
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Higher visitor numbers have been associated with more time inactive in pumas.
“more time inactive in pumas [98]”
From The visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare (2019) · cites this paper as [98]
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- Authors
- Maia, C. M., Volpato, G. L., & Santos, E. F.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-07
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 222-235
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W2035424547
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Acervo Digital da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Universidade Estadual Paulista) (submittedVersion)
- UNESP Institutional Repository (São Paulo State University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Marine animal studies overview
- Keywords
- zoo animal behavior, visitor density, time of day effects, animal welfare
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Zoo, Behavior, Animal, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Noise, Video Recording, Puma
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